Initialism

BBC

1. (usually preceded by "the") British Broadcasting Corporation.

   This programme was made by the BBC.

2. British-born Chinese

Synonyms

• (British Broadcasting Corporation): Auntie (nickname), the Beeb (nickname)

Adjective

BBC (not comparable)

Positive BBC

Comparative not comparable

Superlative none (absolute)

1. In a style typically associated with the BBC.

   The presenter spoke perfect BBC English.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is the largest broadcasting network in the world. The BBC is a public service broadcaster that operates under a Royal Charter. Within the UK, it is funded principally by an annual television licence fee, which is charged to all United Kingdom households, companies and organisations using equipment capable of recording and/or receiving live television broadcasts; the level of the fee is set by the UK Government and agreed by the UK Parliament. The BBC's main responsibility is to provide public service radio, television and internet broadcasting within the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Outside the UK, the BBC World Service has provided services by direct broadcasting and re-transmission contracts by sound radio since the early 1930s, and more recently by television and online. Though sharing some of the facilities of the domestic services, particularly for news and current affairs output, the World Service has a separate Managing Director, and its operating costs are funded mainly by direct grants from the UK government. These grants are determined independently of the domestic licence fee.

The Corporation's 'guaranteed' income from the licence fee and the World Service grants are supplemented by profits from commercial operations through a wholly owned subsidiary, BBC Worldwide Ltd. The company's activities include programme and format sales, magazines including Radio Times and book publishing. The BBC also earns additional income from selling certain programme-making services through BBC Studios and Post Production Ltd, formerly BBC Resources Ltd, another wholly owned trading subsidiary of the corporation.